November 26-28, 2022

The Democratic Youth League of Japan (DYLJ) held its 46th National Congress in Tokyo on November 25-27 and adopted a resolution to achieve a further growth in DYLJ membership through various activities which include a campaign against constitutional revision and a campaign for the full utilization of the Constitution. The congress reelected Nishikawa Ryuhei as DYLJ chair.

In the congress, it was reported that the DYLJ, as of November 27, welcomed 1,715 new members, exceeding the 1,500-goal set at the previous congress.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira delivered a speech in solidarity and JCP member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko, who heads the JCP youth and students commission, attended the congress.

Koike said that the DYLJ achieved a great success in its organizational buildup campaign, and added that the JCP will strengthen its collaboration with the DYLJ so that the DYLJ can attract more and more young people.

Koike called on DYLJ members to work together to realize a substantial minimum wage hike, the halving of university tuitions, and a lower consumption tax rate without delay under a situation in which young people and students are hit hard by the rising cost of living. In addition, referring to the DYLJ’s plan to conduct a campaign to protect the Constitution in collaboration with many youth groups, Koike said that this initiative will encourage similar movements regardless of age, and become a powerful motor in increasing public awareness of the need to protect the Constitution.

In the three-day discussion, delegates from across Japan exchanged their experiences in organizational buildup tactics and other DYLJ activities.

A delegate from Hyogo Prefecture, who joined the DYLJ in February, said, “I used to have no interest in politics. But, when I talked with DYLJ members at their ‘food bank’ project, I learned about Japan’s excessively high tuition fees and became interested in DYLJ’s activities.” This person said, “In Japan, many young people are afflicted with the self-help myth imposed through neoliberal policies. I’ll tell them it’s not their fault and I’ll work hard to help create a society where young people can live a better life.”

A delegate who serves as vice chair of the DYLJ Osaka prefectural organization said, “Many young people are worried about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, they are forced to believe that Japan’s huge military buildup is necessary due to recent moves by Russia, China and North Korea. Now is the time for the DYLJ to fully play a role in giving them a perspective calling for changing government policies.”